Annular solar eclipse occurs in U.S. (19 images)

The eclipse was seen by millions of viewers from China and Japan to the Western USA as the earth's rotation positioned the Far East and USA under the moon's shadow. The two hour long even reached maximum coverage, or annularity, for approximately four minutes as the sun was blocked by the moon at 6:34 PM local time.

Following an orbital path from China and Japan through wester Texas, the moon passes in front of the sun creating an annular eclipse in the skies over Monument Valley National Park, Arizona on May 20, 2012. This timelapse, composite image shows the many phases of the event as the sun descended beyond the buttes in the mid-western sky. .UPI/Joe Marino-Bill Cantrell

The silhouetted moon covers the sun during an annular eclipse over the skies of Monument Valley National Park, Arizona on May 20, 2012. The eclipse was seen by millions of viewers from China and Japan to the Western USA as the earth's rotation positioned the Far East and USA under the moon's shadow. The two hour long even reached maximum coverage, or annularity, for approximately four minutes as the sun was blocked by the moon at 6:34 PM local time. .UPI/Joe Marino-Bill Cantrell

The silhouetted moon covers the sun during an annular eclipse over the skies of Monument Valley National Park, Arizona on May 20, 2012. The eclipse was seen by millions of viewers from China and Japan to the Western USA as the earth's rotation positioned the Far East and USA under the moon's shadow. The two hour long even reached maximum coverage, or annularity, for approximately four minutes as the sun was blocked by the moon at 6:34 PM local time. .UPI/Joe Marino-Bill Cantrell

The silhouetted moon covers the sun during an annular eclipse over the skies of Monument Valley National Park, Arizona on May 20, 2012. The eclipse was seen by millions of viewers from China and Japan to the Western USA as the earth's rotation positioned the Far East and USA under the moon's shadow. The two hour long even reached maximum coverage, or annularity, for approximately four minutes as the sun was blocked by the moon at 6:34 PM local time. .UPI/Joe Marino-Bill Cantrell

The Sun is partially covered by the Moon in this image of the Solar Eclipse over the White Tanks Mountains as it happened at Sky Harbor Airport in Phoenix, Arizona on May 20, 2012. The Sun was not fully covered in Phoenix as it was in other parts of the Southwestern United States. UPI/Art Foxall

The Sun seems to touch the White Tanks Mountaisn as it sets and is partially covered by the Moon in this image of the Solar Eclipse as viewed from Sky Harbor Airport in Phoenix, Arizona on May 20, 2012. The Sun was not as fully covered in Phoenix as it was in other parts of the Southwestern United States. UPI/Art Foxall

The Sun is partially covered by the Moon as it settles into the horizon in this image of the Solar Eclipse as viewed from Sky Harbor Airport in Phoenix, Arizona on May 20, 2012. The Sun was not fully covered in Phoenix as it was in other parts of the Southwestern United States. UPI/Art Foxall